Earlier today, as the threat of Hurricane Sandy canceled schools, closed businesses, and in some states shut down roads, but being hardy New Englanders, many Central Massachusetts residents pulled on their rain boots and water proof jackets and headed out.

Whether it was out to the movies, out to a café or out to a store, people were looking for that which would sustain them through Sandy. Perhaps they were seeking entertainment, a latte or that last available “D” battery.

It's too early to say if Sandy will lived up to all the hype, but she introduced herself to the region with wind-whipped drizzle this morning. She rocked cars and trucks as they drove on local highways, making driving more nerve-wracking than outright impossible, unless you were the man pedaling his bicycle uphill on Route 9 West near Price Chopper in Shrewsbury this morning.

With many businesses telling their workers to stay home, some places like Starbucks turned into a shelter for parents working from home who decided to set up their laptops while they treated their kids to a hot chocolate or bagel.

Shopping through Sandy might not be an option everywhere, as some stores in outdoor shopping centers were closed. The Solomon Pond Mall, the Auburn Mall and the Greendale Mall all closed early.

Northboro Crossing, located high up on a hill off of Routes 9 and 20, had a few stores that were open.

As the wind howled outside the nearly empty parking lot, the doors of Carter's Babies and Kids swung open and closed to invisible customers.

“Our doors keep opening and closing on their own because of the wind up here,” said Meaghan Goulet of Auburn, the assistant manager of the Northboro children's store. “We've had a few customers this morning – they're coming in looking for rain coats and rain boots for their kids.”

The store closed early, and Ms. Goulet said she was headed home to bunker down as the worst is still expected to hit.

At Nicky D's Donuts on Route 20 in Northboro, friends Pat Drumm of Lowell and Mike Robbins of Northboro were contemplating their day of running errands over coffee and donuts. Mr. Drumm, a student whose classes were canceled, and Mr. Robbins, who works at an after-school program in Lowell which was also canceled, were planning to gas up at the local station and go grocery shopping.

“It has yet to hit, but I think it is a lot of hoopla over nothing,” Mr. Drumm said.

At the nearby Rocky's Ace Hardware, supplies were being sold off the delivery truck before the items even had a chance to hit the shelves.

“People were buying it was we were unloading it,” said John Chapdelaine of Northboro, a sales associate at the store. “We're out of 'D' batteries, and we sold our last generator as it came off the truck.”

A co-worker grumbled about schools being canceled prematurely – some districts canceled as early as yesterday – saying it was unnecessary because the worst of the storm was expected to arrive by mid-afternoon.

While the storm made for a windy and wet Monday, Mr. Chapdelaine said his customers weren't ready to say the so-called Frankenstorm fizzled.

“People are still nervous,” Mr. Chapdelaine said.

Leominster, which postponed trick-or-treating until 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, the city opened a shelter at the Southeast School.

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Mayor Dean J. Mazzarella asked all candidates to secure their campaign signs to prevent them from becoming roadside hazards. In addition, Leominster City Hall was fielding calls from people asking where they can get generators.

An emergency shelter will be set up at Atlantic Union College in Lancaster if needed, according to Fire Chief Richard J. Hart. He said the college has its own power supply.

Residents in both Clinton and Bolton can use the shelter.

The day was not without emergency incidents. In Bolton, a tree fell on a car on Route 117. No one was injured.

At LalaJava cafe in Northboro, the tomato soup was on for lunch, and customers were in early.

“We've been busy,” Lala Boyers, owner of LalaJava said. “Customers with my personal cell phone keep calling to ask if we are open. We are always open. The only ways we are closed is if I can't physically operate my machinery.”

Ms. Boyers is already planning for tomorrow and experience from storms past tell her she may be swamped in the morning.

Casey Ballou of Worcester was planning to catch a movie, but was waiting for a call to confirm whether he had to work this afternoon.

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